Verticordia densiflora var. cespitosa facts for kids

Verticordia densiflora var. cespitosa is a beautiful flowering plant that belongs to the myrtle family, called Myrtaceae. This plant is special because it is only found in one place: the south-west part of Western Australia. When a plant or animal is found only in one specific area, it's called endemic.

This plant is a type of shrub, which means it's a woody plant smaller than a tree. It has small leaves and produces pretty pink, or sometimes pink and white, flowers. It's one of five different types, or varieties, of a plant species known as Verticordia densiflora.

What Does This Plant Look Like?

Verticordia densiflora var. cespitosa is a shrub that usually grows to be about 20 to 70 centimeters (8 to 28 inches) tall. It has a special part called a lignotuber at its base. This lignotuber helps the plant survive fires, allowing it to grow back even after a bushfire.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves of this plant can be different shapes, from long and thin (linear) to oval (egg-shaped). The leaves closest to the flowers are quite small, only about 0.8 to 1.5 millimeters (0.03 to 0.06 inches) wide.

The flowers have a lovely honey scent. They grow in groups that look a bit like flat-topped clusters, on upright stems that are usually 2 to 3 millimeters (0.08 to 0.12 inches) long. Sometimes, these stems can be up to 4 millimeters (0.16 inches) long.

The flowers themselves can be silvery-pink, bright purplish-pink, and white. Some flowers are just pale to deep pink. Each flower has a cup-shaped base, called a floral cup, which is about 1.5 millimeters (0.06 inches) long. It's smooth but has tiny hairs near its bottom.

The sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the flower bud, are 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters (0.10 to 0.14 inches) long. They have a wide base and 2 to 4 parts that are covered in rough hairs. The petals, which are the colorful parts of the flower, are similar in color to the sepals. They are 1.2 to 1.9 millimeters (0.05 to 0.07 inches) long and egg-shaped, with many tiny threads at their ends.

The style, which is a part of the flower involved in reproduction, is 5 to 6 millimeters (0.20 to 0.24 inches) long. It sticks out beyond the petals, is curved, and has hairs with a thicker base. This plant usually blooms from October to May.

How Was This Plant Named?

The plant was first officially described by a scientist named Nikolai Turczaninow in 1847. His description was published in a scientific paper called Bulletin de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou.

Later, in 1991, another scientist named Alex George studied the whole genus of Verticordia plants. He identified five different varieties of Verticordia densiflora and recognized V. cespitosa as one of them. The name "cespitosa" comes from a Latin word meaning "tufted." This refers to how the first plant specimen looked when it was collected.

Where Does This Plant Grow?

This variety of V. densiflora likes to grow in sandy soil. You can often find it near granite rocks or a special type of rock called spongolite. Sometimes, it even grows in areas that are low and don't drain water very well.

You can find this plant in different types of natural areas, like heathlands (open areas with small shrubs), shrublands (areas with many shrubs), or woodlands (areas with trees). Its range stretches from near Geraldton in the north, all the way down to Esperance on the south coast. It can also be found inland as far as Dowerin.

It lives in several different natural regions in Western Australia, including the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, and Swan Coastal Plain.

Is This Plant Protected?

The Western Australian Government's Department of Parks and Wildlife has classified Verticordia densiflora var. cespitosa as "not threatened." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.

Growing This Plant in Gardens

There are a few different forms of this plant that people like to grow in their gardens. One form is a taller, more open shrub that often has large flower clusters. Another form is more compact and rounded, producing lots of flowers.

Both forms are quite tough and can grow well, even in places with more humid air, like Sydney. They can grow in different types of soil and are pretty good at handling frost. It's relatively easy to grow new plants from cuttings (small pieces of the plant) or from seeds, although not all the seeds will sprout.